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Many believe that Flamenco originates from gypsy people, but nowadays this statement is discredited.
According to research, gypsies first came to Spain at the start of the 15th century from the north of India, where they found warmer climates which were more suited to their lifestyle in the outdoors and travelling in wagons. They entered Spain from Cataluña. Many of them stayed here whilst others continued to the south, the majority of which settled in the most western part of Andalusia (Seville and Cadiz).
The fact that Flamenco is not directly related to gypsies can be proven by the fact that there are gypsies all over the world, yet Flamenco is associated with the inhabitants of Andalusia and their predecessors.
Flamenco music is a way for people to communicate their experiences and tragedies. The feelings and passion of the words are reflected in the pitch of the singer’s voice.
The "Copla Andaluza", the popular folk music from Andalusia, combines nostalgia and lyrics to express the oppression and ill treatment that ethnic groups have suffered since the 15th century: the Arabs were expelled from Spain in 1492 and the Jews were forced to convert to Christianity to avoid the persecution that they would otherwise have been subjected to. This is why Flamenco music is characterized by sorrow and the disillusionment of the poor. 
Although a well discussed subject, no reliable explanation or agreement has ever been reached about the word’s origin. There are many theories, some with more logic than others, but the two most credible are:
- Flamenco performers typically wore a short jacket, tall and twisted at the waist, with trousers that were tight on the legs and the backside to resemble the shape of a flamenco bird.
- All of King Carlos V’s choir singers were Flemish (they were known as Flanders which translates into Spanish as “Flamenco”) and as a result the singers were commonly referred to as Flamencos
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